As December arrived, the weather turned cold, and the brick factory was in a semi-idle state.

At the brick factory, there were people like Shang Zonghui and Jiang Xinglei.

Jiang Lin didn’t need to go every day; she spent her time at the Yuhong Class, managing her studies and watching Yan Runzhi and others do embroidery.

Cheng Yunzhi was quite busy.

After Cheng Fugui was arrested and Cheng Fuwan was dismissed, the entire Shuihuai Village felt like a huge burden had been lifted.

The villagers had no more worries and even those who usually stayed away came to congratulate Cheng Yunzhi and Yan Runzhi.

Although there were many hidden agendas among them, Cheng Yunzhi didn’t pay much attention to that.

He was not one for conflict and, after years of challenges, craved peace even more.

Things were finally settling down.

The Cheng family’s exhibition room was officially opened, and the county cultural center began organizing and recording past events, gathering local oral histories.

They elected Cheng Yunzhi as the head of the exhibition room to help with the cultural center’s work.

So sometimes, Jiang Lin would help take care of the kids in the Yuhong Class.

One day, as the sun was setting around four o’clock, the classroom was already dark.

Jiang Lin finished class and let the kids play for a while before heading home.

The kids gathered around Dabao and Xiaobao, excitedly shouting, “Tell us a story!”

Jiang Lin went outside to find Wensheng and saw him sitting against the wall, focused on sharpening his sword.

The north wind blew, swirling leaves and making a whistling sound, but around him, it calmed down and became quiet.

“Wensheng, why are you sharpening it? It’ll get rusty if you wear it out.”

“I need to sharpen the kitchen knives and sickles at home, so I thought I’d sharpen this too.” Wensheng didn’t see a problem with sharpening the sword, but he had his own reasons for defending it.

Jiang Lin leaned closer to take a look.

It would take a long time to get a blade, but if iron rods could be turned into needles, she worried about his determination and wanted him to give up the idea of sharpening the sword.

She smiled and asked, “Wensheng, why haven’t you been talking to your mom lately? Do you have something on your mind?”

Since that day she was scared by the dog, Wensheng seemed different.

He appeared older and more mature, but also more silent.

Unlike the other kids who laughed and played, he sometimes sat quietly, lost in thought, looking like he had something on his mind.

Could he really have worries?

Jiang Lin didn’t want to take it lightly.

After all, he wasn’t a typical child; he was a 12-year-old boy who had been mentally disturbed for nearly thirty years.

She had to be careful and decided to observe him for a few days before directly asking.

Wensheng lowered his eyelashes, staring at the sword in his hand.

He sharpened it a bit and then shook his head.

Seeing him like this made Jiang Lin even less convinced, but when she asked, he wouldn’t answer—he was a bit stubborn.

So, she tried a different approach. “You’re not telling me what’s bothering you. Do you not want to be close to me anymore?”

Wensheng quickly shook his head. “Of course not!” He swallowed hard, looking a bit embarrassed, his cheeks turning slightly red.

He raised his hand to touch his chin and asked, “Mom, why do I have whiskers? Dabao and Xiaobao don’t have any.”

Jiang Lin was speechless.

He had never asked before, so why was he suddenly noticing his whiskers?

Wensheng was confused; it wasn’t just his face—he was growing hair in other places too, which was a bit embarrassing.

Why was this happening when Dabao and Xiaobao didn’t have any?

Jiang Lin thought to herself: Why did I even ask? I should have had Cheng Rushan talk to him instead.

She smiled and said, “That’s normal! It means you’re growing up. Don’t you feel like you’re getting older? Growing up means not just getting taller or eating more, but also showing signs like these!”

He reached up to touch Jiang Lin’s face, which was smooth and soft. “But you don’t have any!”

Jiang Lin had to explain the differences between men and women.

Wensheng seemed to understand a bit. “I’m like Grandpa, Dad, Dabao, and Xiaobao; we’re all boys with whiskers, while you and Grandma are girls without any.”

Jiang Lin nodded in approval. “Exactly.”

In this regard, he seemed less aware than Dabao and Xiaobao.

Even though his expression was serious, Jiang Lin explained it to him in a way suitable for a child.

Wensheng accepted that growing up would bring changes, and Dabao and Xiaobao would go through the same.

Jiang Lin added, “When your dad comes back, you can ask him. He can tell you more.”

“Okay!” Wensheng’s expression lightened considerably.

Just then, outside, they heard Liu Honghua talking to a woman.

Liu Honghua was especially enthusiastic: “Sister, you haven’t been back in years!”

The woman sighed, “Once you’re married, you don’t have freedom anymore. It’s far to come out, and if it weren’t for a lot of talking, my mother-in-law wouldn’t let me come out at all.”

Jiang Lin didn’t recognize the woman at first, but then realized who she was.

This was Cheng Ruhai’s younger sister, Cheng Rushan’s half-sister.

Her name was Cheng Xianglan, two years younger than Cheng Ruhai.

She didn’t inherit the good looks of the Cheng family men and had thick lips and a flat nose from her uncle, but she had a simple, honest charm.

When Cheng Ruhai got married, Yan Runzhi wanted her to get engaged too to help with the bride price for her brother, but she refused, saying she was too young to marry.

Yet, just a couple of months after Cheng Ruhai’s wedding, Cheng Xianglan found a partner on her own and quickly married without wanting any dowry from her family.

After marrying, Cheng Xianglan never returned.

Jiang Lin learned all this during casual chats with Yan Runzhi when she asked about family matters, but Yan Runzhi didn’t want to discuss it, and it was Old Lady Shang who told her.

Listening to the two aunts talk excitedly, Jiang Lin ignored them and continued chatting with Wen Sheng.

Liu Honghua and Cheng Xianglan walked over and saw her talking closely with Wen Sheng.

Cheng Xianglan smirked and said to Liu Honghua, “That’s your sister-in-law, and that’s the eldest brother’s son.”

Cheng Xianglan looked surprised at Jiang Lin and Wen Sheng, her face full of disbelief. “You two—”

Jiang Lin and Wensheng glanced at her, and Jiang Lin replied, “Who are you?”

If she were close to her relatives, she would greet them with a smile, but this one wasn’t worth her time.

Cheng Xianglan quickly laughed and said, “Sister-in-law, is Dongsheng at home? Where are our parents? I’m his sister, just came back to visit them.”

Jiang Lin was shocked. “Sister? I didn’t even know he had a sister.”

Cheng Xianglan’s expression turned sour but she held it back. “What are you saying, sister-in-law? Didn’t our parents mention me to you?”

Jiang Lin replied, “We haven’t been in touch for years, so it’s hard to say.”

Cheng Xianglan thought Jiang Lin was blaming her for not caring for the family and not helping out over the years.

She was worried Jiang Lin had come back for some benefit now that things were getting better.

Her eyes turned red as she said, “Sister-in-law, you know how it is. I’m from a bad family, and it’s hard to find someone willing to marry me.

Once married, it’s all about working and taking care of the family.

I can’t just leave! If I had even half a day, I’d come back too!

Ask the eldest sister-in-law—can married women just come back home whenever?

The production team doesn’t allow it, and the in-laws won’t either. There’s always work to do!”

Jiang Lin responded, “Oh, so now you have time?”

Cheng Xianglan explained, “Isn’t this because our family is getting justice? My status has improved a bit, so I can go out freely now. Before, they wouldn’t even let me leave.”

Jiang Lin smiled but didn’t say anything more.

Even if what Cheng Xianglan said was true, she couldn’t shake off her negative feelings towards her, especially after remembering how she used to not call Yan Runzhi “mother.”

Now, hearing about her coming back to claim that relationship made her feel even less favorable towards her sister-in-law.

Cheng Xianglan noticed Jiang Lin’s cold attitude and felt frustrated.

She had been a bit anxious about returning after so many years, worried people might think she had ulterior motives.

She wanted to get along with her sister-in-law, so she tried to be friendly, but instead, she was met with this cold reception.

Feeling upset, Cheng Xianglan didn’t want to put on a friendly face anymore and decided to assert her position as the eldest sister-in-law. “I’m here to see our parents,” she declared, huffing and turning to leave.

Liu Honghua quickly followed her to the exhibition room to find Cheng Yunzhi and to update her on the family situation.

Jiang Lin turned to Wen Sheng and said, “Let’s go to Grandma’s house to cook.”

Yan Runzhi was finishing up a class with the embroidery group, telling them to go home and prepare meals.

After tidying up, she locked the room to keep it secure.

Jiang Lin informed Yan Runzhi about Cheng Xianglan’s return.

Yan Runzhi was taken aback. “Who? Cheng Xianglan? She’s back?”

It was no surprise she felt a bit out of the loop; after so many years of no contact, this sudden return was indeed surprising.

She said to Jiang Lin, “Bao’er’s mother, you take Da Bao and Xiao Bao home first. I’ll go find your father.”

In the past, she didn’t hold grudges against her children when they were small, believing that with time, people could warm up to each other.

But now that everyone had their own families, and Dong Sheng had Lin Lin, she didn’t want them getting involved with Cheng Ruhai and his siblings.

She felt they were the kind of people who wouldn’t bring warmth to the family and didn’t want them to make things difficult for Bao’er and her children.

Jiang Lin called over the two boys who were busy telling stories, “Time to go home!”

The kids were reluctant, asking, “Da Bao, Xiao Bao, will you come back tomorrow?”

Da Bao replied, “Not necessarily.”

He thought his peers were quite childish, but as soon as his friends left, he and Xiao Bao ran over and each hung onto Wen Sheng’s arm, wanting him to carry them home.

“Mom, are we writing a letter to Grandpa? I invited Sister Qin Qin and Xiao Ke to come play during winter break!” Da Bao asked.

“It’s too cold in winter, and your uncle has to go home too. Let’s wait until summer next year. Grandpa just moved houses and spent a lot of money getting everything set up, so there’s no extra money for train tickets.”

“We can ride in my dad’s car!” Xiao Bao suggested.

“But Dad’s car might not be available either.”

When they got home, Jiang Lin opened the door, and Wen Sheng brought in a bundle of corn stalks to help her start a fire for cooking.

Since there were two rooms for sleeping and they needed to keep warm during winter, Jiang Lin cooked sweet potatoes and steamed buns in the east room while making a stew in the west room.